External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday dismissed suggestions that India’s foreign policy was showing signs of “re-hyphenation” with Pakistan, asserting that New Delhi’s diplomatic approach today is defined by its own strength, capability and global standing rather than by comparison with a “not-so-nice” neighbour.

Speaking at an interaction at JNU, Jaishankar said India had consciously moved away from the era when its global relationships were viewed through the Pakistan prism. “We have multiple neighbours — some are clearly better than others — and the hyphenation normally happens with a neighbour who is not so nice,” he remarked. “The best way of de-hyphenation,” he added, “is to outstrip the other party in terms of power and capability.” He said that unlike in the 1970s, when

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